you videos are great also mate, not only are you are great player you are young, when you play, it's like someone, beyond your years, great tones too..
I want them all! But the Tone Gremlin and Morgan Are my favourite. I've got to say Paul, your videos are truly an inspiration. Not only on the guitar side, but also how you produce your videos. Keep raising the bar.
I use 15 watt amps to play with my country band, they are plenty loud. I had a 70’s Champ, it was fun but not loud enough to perform with. These smaller combos have another benefit, they are so easy to carry to gigs for an old guy like me!
Instant subscribe. No ridiculous quick cuts, no crappy intro music. Slower paced than most, great camera work and editing. Most importantly - the sweet sweet tones from all those amps! ❤ What about the 65 Princeton Reverb reissue? Would love to hear your take!
It's been about 2 years since this video aired and my search for a vintage Vibro Champ started. I can now say that I'm the happy owner of a '76 Vibro Champ wich is in almost mint condition. It had to be recapped, but after that it's alive again! I was instantly in love with this awesome sounding gem! Dankjewel Paul.
Don't get me wrong, I love That Pedal Show, watch it all the time, and enjoy their playing on really loud amps while vicariously living the experience with them, but it just isn't practical at all for most of us. This is a healthy dose of amazing tones at low volumes. Killer at home tones, that's what we need. Thanks Paul!
There are a lot of great Dutch UA-camrs and they all have the same pleasing accent, at least to my American ears. And they speak English much more correctly than most of us. I admire that they can speak my language so well, but I know nothing about theirs.
I have a '57 Fender Deluxe and it's by far the best sounding amp without any pedals. It also sounds amazing with a distortion pedal through a 2x12 cab. Larry Carlton claims he played a '57 Deluxe on the Royal Scam album. If so, it's no surprise. Great video, Paul. I'm gonna run out and get a Morgan.
I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life when I sold my 1959 Fender Princeton Tweed with the 5F2-A circuit. 5w, 8" speaker, volume and tone that was it... It was such a perfect amp...
I have a Mesa California Tweed. It’s multiwatt settings are great for lower volume playing. It’s not an attenuator, it’s like having multiple amps, as it uses different combinations of tubes to go from 2 to 10 to 20 to 30 to 40 watts.
Same with my Rivera Venus Deux Rec. It's like having 4 amps in one: 2 hi/low power tweeds, and 2 hi/low power BFs, and even some additional voices with the bright and fat switches, focus and presence knobs. Simple but incredibly versatile. No bad sounds, just a lot of different ones, and all without modeling.
That Morgan AC20 does it for me. Vox sounds and power scaling makes me a happy man. Also, I half thought you were gonna start performing some Spinal Tap with that opening riff haha
I used to have a seafoam green Fender Excelsior which is similar to a Blues Jr but with a 15” speaker and a cool retro design. LOVED that combo amp and regret selling it to this day! 😭
I almost hate to say that I have a brown Fender Excelsior... first real tube amp, and no way I'm selling it. 13w is deceptive, I barely turn it up in the apartment. It gets LOUD quickly. Great with pedals, too.
This really resonated with me! For 5+ years I've had a 15W Bluetone Stalker (Finnish small builder) and it's the best amp I've ever had. Works great at home, in the studio, and on small gigs (even with drums). Sounds great clean and dirty but also takes pedals nicely. Simple but diverse and amazing sounding. My bandmate built a custom 2x12" tweed deluxe kit, and that too is awesome.
I have a '73 vibro champ. That thing is so so rad. It has such a unique yet quintessential fender sound. I love it. You can find them on the used market for a decent price as well, which is definitely a win.
That AC20 on the moon setting (no pedal) is my heart and souls home. I'm sold for life. Edit: Wow, that naturally overdriven fender tweed at the end is the perfect, quintessential rock sound. What a hard decision between the two.
I love low watt amps. I have an Epiphone Valve Jr, and a 90's Blues Jr. Both have been modded and have custom speakers. A great practice amp, and a great grab and go amp. My forever gear. Great show, Paul.
I have a 53 feluxe clone. I love how it goes from screaming overdriven tones to sparkling chimey cleans with nothing more that a change in touch on the strings. Pure magic.
Oooh maaan, I love this!! No joke! David is talking about an amp being a pedal platform and plays fuzz through it! I mean, YES! I have a pedalboard, and I need demos about how amps take pedals.
I’ve keep a Swart 6v6 under my desk and I play it everyday. It sounds incredible. I also love that it doesn’t cost a fortune when I have to replace tubes like my larger amps.
Being a sucker for the classic Fender cleans and the fender look, I'd take the champ all day long. That being said I do also love tweed and vox tones, so those would be tied for a close second.
Love my VoxAC30. It only really shines if isolated, miked up, and cranked up to make the tubes huff and puff. It's a keeper; but on almost 100% of my live gigs, I have a boutique low wattage amp that I'm able to turn up. Great video.
I have a 1959 5-watt Gibson amp that came with the 1959 Yellow TV model Les Paul single coil, (which I also still have). That amp was my main amp for many years. The tone was unparalleled. I just miced it up through a Fender Twin to make it loud enough to be heard in clubs over the drums and bass.
Carr Super Bee mr Papa! If you haven’t demoed one on your channel give it a crack! (Yeah I know you’re emotionally connected to divided by) Take care sir 👍🇦🇺
That tweed deluxe sounds awesome!!! Love the channel. Thanks for passing the knowledge and the love of not only playing guitar,but just the love of music!! Keep on killing it!!!!
My old 1957 Fender 5F2A is incredible. My dad's first amp. With a Jensen P8R speaker. Love the simplicity of it: one preamp tube, one power tube, one rectifier tube. Working on them is super simple too. Replacing the filter caps, resistors and tube sockets was a piece of cake because of the turret board/point to point wiring. I tried running it through an extension cab with a 12" speaker and ended up coming back to the 8". There is just something focused and magical about it. Personally I just drape an e906 front and center over the middle of the speaker, and use a large diaphragm condenser as a room mic, and it's an awesome sound. I'm the same way with not liking super loud amps, with the exception of jamming. It's been a couple years since I was in a band gigging regularly and going to jams regularly, but I will say that in a live situation, I love the power of bigger amps. I never owned one personally, but the bass player in one of my bands would always let me play through his Sunn amp head with KT-88 tubes and a 4x12 bottom. There really is something great about that, though to be fair, I never played in a band or jam situation with my 5F2A mic'd up. Maybe I'd like that even more. Also, the Gremlin sounded great. And has a great name. Maybe partially because I somewhat identify as a gremlin myself.
Technically, there's very little difference between a 20W and 30W amp. 100W is only twice as loud as 10W. Tried to post a citation of it, but UA-cam rejected it. But basically 10x power (wattage) = 10dB increase which = 2x the loudness. 2x the wattage = 3dB increase, which is just noticeable by human hearing Speaker efficiency has a huge impact on loudness of an amp. I've heard 5W amps playing through a really efficient 2x12 pair on an outdoor stage competing with drums and 2nd guitarist w/20W amp, both unmiced. His volume was maxed but he sounded great. Also, higher wattage amps will have more bass content which probably adds to the "feeling" of it being louder, without it actually technically being more dBs.
I just sold a 1966 Vibrochamp (black face)to Sweetwater- It was completely original in stellar shape. It still worked, but definitely needed new caps and updated. I believe the output on that amp was 6 watts. Nice amp, but I wanted a newer tube amp for my daughter that if she needed to could gig with. My trade worked out about even for a brand new PRS Sonzera 50- probably more amp than she needs, but nice sound. I know I'll probably regret this one day, but I'm sure it will go to someone that really appreciates it!
So cool! I've got a little Fender Blues Jr. amp that has a sound similar to that '53 Fender Deluxe. It's about the same size and has the same tweed covering. Bought it used about three years ago and have NEVER regretted it. Love that sound!
Love my recent Marshall Origin 5C seeing as it fills a spot in my heart emptied when I had to sell my 1970s Bluesbreaker. All hail small tube amps. Even 5 watts can blow the bloody doors off :)
I have two self modded 5 watt epi valve jr. heads. Run them into a 10” Celestion green cabinet and it will blow us out of the bedroom. So it’s held at 10 o’clock at most.
@@annunacky4463 I've got one of those valve Jr combos, and it is uncomfortably Loud in a very large living room, can't dial up past 3/4. No headroom on that thing, but plenty loud! I actually played a valve Jr through a 4-10 cab, and it sounded killer, and finally carried some real headroom. My VHT ultra 6 watt is just about the perfect practice amp. It has a built in attenuator and a 1/2 power switch, so basically can run from .1-6.0 watts. Plenty of clean headroom for living room/coffee shop, and crunch on dial at any volume
Over the years I've had pretty much everything "vintage" from a 1950 Champ to a Marshall JMP 100 watt head and I eventually concluded that everything above 10 watts just wasn't viable domestically, the first thing I ever got rid of because it was "too loud" was a silver face Fender Twin and the rest, quite a collection of them, went shortly afterwards. I kept (because of the master-volume) a Marshall Studio 15 that I've now had for 30 years from new but the one I really miss saying "goodbye" to was a mid-60's blackface Princeton ...... if I had to choose from your four it would be the Vibro-Champ, they're wonderful in almost every way ....... only, when I was buying amps they were too CBS to be cool.
Honestly for bedroom volume I've found that amps between about .05W and 5W are about perfect for actually being able to get power tube saturation. I love my DSL40CR, but I've owned that amp for nearly two years now and it's only this past week that I bought an attenuator and I can FINALLY get the tones I wanted out of it.
I love my '66 Vibrochamp. Just right for playing in my little studio and the vibe is so cool. I thought the Morgan amp sounded incredible. Honestly, they all sounded great due largely to your tasteful and tasty playing Paul. Cheers!
Bought a Marshall powerbrake attenuator 15 years ago and have never looked back, 30w valve amps sound glorious at home, even on the quietest setting the tone is amazing and how a valve amp should sound. Slightly baffled that in 2021 many experienced guitarists still don’t know about attenuators!
I been looking into attenuators to use with a possible purchase of a marshal 20w plexi studio head. But Iv watched so many videos and many solid comparisons . Unfortunately i that just about every attenuator thins out the sound. It cuts off most of the bass end. The only one that doesn’t do that is the power station yet it scoops the mids with its 6l6 tubes . So idk. They all just made the guitar sound thinner and loses its true warmth and idk if it’s worth it if I value the original tone . Otherwise I can just use my marshal with a master volume instead .
Matamp 20w head - just unbelievably big sound! Amazing tone ( same yr as Peter Green's ). Haven't changed the valves since 1979! Lol! Aging like a fine single malt!
@@Ninjametal nah. Put a mic on it and run a little guitar through the monitors and that Blues Jr will be plenty with even a really hard hitting drummer.
Each to his own but for me the Fender 53 does it. For us more monitarily challenged, I found that the Fender Pro Jr 4 Ltd in Tweed does a great sound with a 10" Jensen. You need to try it in a room setting - not a large hall where the harmonics get lost. Great video Paul. You are becoming more distinguished as the years go by.
Thanks! Although I enjoyed the AC-20 because of its punch. The Vibro Champ for its clarity, the strings sing together. I thought the Gremlin was a little too bright for my taste, but switching to the lead channel helped. It sounded nice with pedals. The '53 Deluxe is likely the amp I will remember from this demonstration. That tone wraps me like a blanket.
Yep, this is why I sold my Bugera 333. It was a 120W all tube combo amp that was painfully loud with the volume on 2. Great stage amp I guess, but I'm much better served with my Champ X2 now.
I have a Bugera g20 that I love. Was considering a g5 someday. I can't imagine playing a 120 watt amp unless it was at an outdoor festival, and even then only 1 speaker gets mic'd anyway. I sold my 100 watt Marshall, Peavey and Randall heads years ago.
IMHO, 20 watt-ish amps are usually too loud for practice/small gig use too...And switching (when possible) to 5 watts, usually makes it sound a little thinner. I stopped worrying about it when I bought a Rivera Rock Crusher attenuator - possibly the best no-nonsense attenuator out there. Now I can use 50 watt or 100 watt amps at home or band practice. Highly recommended. Great video and playing, Paul. Thanks for sharing
I really like the tone of the gremlin and the clean fender. Along with the B roll at the end I’ll keep watching! Stay well, Paul! Glad you’re having fun👏🎼👍🏼…actually, they all make me drool ha
Love the sound of that Morgan, especially in the dark setting. My favourite small amp is my Bassbreaker 007, just sounds like guitar should to my ears.
Love my 007 and my 57 champ. Went into guitar center with a bassbreaker 45 2x12 and a Marshall origin 50 with a 2x12 cab and walked out with the little 5 watt custom 57 champ. Couldn’t have been happier only 1 guy knew why I did it lol. Had the 007 already that’s why I never used the 45.
The '53 Deluxe sounds by far the best, just right and lovely. Then '74 Vibro Champ, kind of cute, sweet sound. The others are more rough. Thanks for a beautiful comparison.
I bought a silver face Vibro Champ back in the early ‘90s and it’s not going anywhere! Found it in a tiny little used instrument music shop in my town that specialized in junk. But there in a stack of cheap solid state amps sat the dusty little Champ! Played it cool and negotiated for it. In the end slapped cash on the counter and said that was it. It may be small but it weighed a ton by the time I walked home. Great video Paul! Small amps are sorta the rage now but they’re worth has been known for decades.
Here's what I'd really like to see: a small tube amp, with switchable power settings (1/5 W RMS or 1/5/20 W RMS), a complete tone stack (bass-mid-treble), master volume, an effects loop, and a Hiwatt-like tonal signature.
Marshall Origin 20H with a cab of your choosing fits that almost perfectly, although its definitely based on an early marshall/bassman design so may not scratch that Hiwatt itch. You'll just have to try it. Beware the treble and presence controls though, always run them at 0 and use the unique tilt control for treble. Then you have an absolutely amazing amp that sounds good at any of the 0.3 watt, 5 watt, or 20 watt settings. Includes master volume and effects loop of course.
This is why I like 10w tube combos with relatively low sensitivity (97 or 98dB) speakers these days. 15 years ago, I was gigging with two 120w half stacks in a metal band... but it was all preamp distortion, the amps were never that loud. For the last 10 years, my most powerful amp has been 15w.
I have the tone king falcon grande..and I’ve been playing many years..probably owned so many quality amps ..This is a beautiful amp.does the whole gamit ..blackface,tweed,and as advertised a Supro type overdriven sound…love yr tutelage…and playing..Glenn Nyc
Haha just posted about my Falcon Grande, then saw your comment. Best amp for me, hands-down. Those cleans are f'n magic, and that overdrive (I push it with an MXR EQ and a Klon Klone) are beastly rich.
I feel the same about my Rivera Venus Deux Rec! It doesn't have a built in attenuator, but it does have a 7w/25w switch. And it will give me BF, tweed and so much more. Plus an incredibly lush reverb and built-in silent and direct recording facilities and headphone out and FX loop, etc etc. Wowza!
That nostalgic Zoom multi FX, Paul! I got my Zoom 707 in 2004, and really served me well through those years, plugged in directly to many basic non tube amps...
Dear paul, if u ever read this. Thanks a lot for your ever inspiring content. This channel was so helpfull for a lot of my descicions. Just bought a used princeton reissue as a first tube amp. Fits my home practicing all the band rehearsals and get a bit of micing up during concerts. This vid convinced me to go small. Cheers Jonathan
I’m all about small amps! Got a Mesa Boogie Mark 5:25 and it’s is a beast! Also a Roland JC22 and Boss ACS Live, and a MarkBass Marcus Miller CMD. All tiny, but loud enough for any gig that can take a DI to the front of the house
Recently purchased a VOX AC10. Went smaller for the same reasons mentioned in the video. It's a brighter amp but has that signature chime. I like the idea of putting a ribbon in front to maybe warm things up a bit.
I'm a bit split between the AC10 and the AC15. The AC10 has a huge advantage in that it's super light and easy to move to a jam or a gig, but it's got a digital reverb, while the AC15 has all of the classic Vox circuitry and a reverb tank... but you pay for it by it being 15kg heavier.
@@Stoney3K Tough decision. The AC15 is awesome - just a bit too loud for my small studio. Something else to consider might be the speaker (Celestion or Alnico) That said, I love VOX pedigree - perfect for anyone looking for a little Beatle magic :D
I've been playing an AC10 for the last year and it DEFINTELY has the chops. That chime is soooo choice. I play a Fender Strat, and Epiphone Les Paul, and a Squier Tele through it - and they all sound like melting butter. Highly, highly recommended.
I just got an AC-15. I love that Vox sound. I always have, grew up with my dad playing Queen, and listening to British rock. It was either a clean toned Vox or a dirty as hell Orange. Those were my two dream amps. I dont gig or anything so i'm not worried about weight, my only concern is the volume of the 15 will be too much to tame. But clean tones i can get a ton of use out of it at a reasonable volume.
Love the AC10, I wanted one even lower volume so I went with an AC4TV a massive 4 watts of tube and can go down as low as 1/4 watt works ! still pretty damn loud if you need it.
I love my tone king gremlin, black face, tweed it does it all. Been my one and only amp since I bought it after watching the demo on peach guitars channel.
Yes quickly became my favorite...the head can run an EL34 and it sounds amazing w nos Mullard Montrose tones w a LP...I didn't even use the overdrive channel
Thanks Paul for the perfect presentation of the 4 small amplifiers. For me the Morgan AC20 is killer.The perfect (little) mix between Vox and Matchless souds. In my opinion this one has enough power for stage use and it sounds fantastic with more than enough options to set up your perfect sound. Without a doubt a small amp of great class and for me the most versatile of the quartet for use at both low and high volume!
Hello Paul, I am literally your biggest fan. Its been about six years I have been learning guitar and for the past 2 years I have progressed so much just seeing your videos. They are just awesome. Would definitely like a video on the best electric guitars out there for a middle class person. Thanks Love from India💓💞 😊
Always a great learning experience to see you play and talk about your instruments and amps. You treat them all with such TLC and highlight the special qualities of each one. You’ll make a good dad for sure!
Damn, I had a Zoom 505II that I used for all my effects for years! Totally forgot about that thing. I'd spend hours making presets, trying to emulate sounds from various songs.
Holy smokes that Morgan sounds glorious! That would be my choice Paul, seems really versatile and maybe powerful enough to even play live mic’ed up through the front end. They all sounded killer though, you have a lot to do with that!
I promise you - its great. My best amp in 30 years amp search. Sounds great with both single coils, p90, humbuckers. Fair weight and massive pure tube sound. But buy the JS12 or change the speaker in the PR12 to an Eminence JS1250. Amazing together… 😀
My father bought a 74 V Champ when i was born. 1974. Sadly he's passed, God rest his soul, but i still have the V Champ and some great gear he left me. Thanks Paul.
Thought the Morgan had a good overall sound, especially with that tweek of reverb (which pedal? Nice) ... Fender vibro-champ ... ideal jazz tone ... least favourite Tone King, and "winner" Fender Delux, just "quality" ... that's all I can say ... something visceral about the sound ... great little video, enjoyed it immensely, keep it up!
Went to a gig a couple of days ago where the guitarist used a small Tone King stack. It sounded absolutely amazing and I knew they would be expensive but I still cried when I looked it up
I’ve become a bit of a cab collector lately so I I don’t buy combos anymore. I think I could get the Gremlin head and just pair it with one of my 1x12s to find the best speaker/cab size that goes with it. For your own preferences I think it’s very worthwhile to compare a head with the same speaker in a small 1x12 cab or a more oversized 1x12 cab.
The last one was the best to my ears :) but that Morgan, wow... superb! Anyway, same here, Paul: 20 watts probably is what I need for concerts (it will have mics in front of it anyway to go through the PA). When practicing, 5 watts should do the job. I had a 100 watts Marshall that I used only in one recording... you can guess why. It was almost impossible to find the sweet spot at descent levels. So I got back my Fender Blues Junior, modded now with a Made in UK Celestion Greenback, and decided to go for one of Marshall's studio series heads (the Silver Jubilee 20 watts head, for its versatility) for when I need those sweet Marshall driven tones through a bigger cab.
I've got the Fender Bronco (1974) which is the same as the Vibro Champ - great clean little amp, and enough sound that I'm not afraid of using on small gigs. Really like the classic Fender sound - my first amp was a late 60's Deluxe Reverb, and I've currently got the Bronco, a Carvin Vintage 16 and a reissue '68 Fender Deluxe Reverb (along w/ several small 1960's Gibson/Epiphone amps). The Fender Bronco/Vibro Champ is really special.
I love small tubes!! The 10-25 watt range is perfect for a coffee shop or a bedroom or for recording with a mic :) anything higher power is better for stadiums. Don’t waste your money on bigger amps then you need -❤️Lucy
@@elrincondelaguitarra3050 Way too loud, I know because I have a Supersonic 22, that is pretty much the same as the clean channel of a DR, but at 3-4 of the volume...(it is a gigging volume with drummer) you are getting a crunch tone and not a clean tone. That´s the "problem"...when you need cleaner tone at the same volume.
@@joserra79 Yep. If it's only clean tone you need, I'd go with a SS amp... (e.g. A BOSS Katana, and you won't be needing pedals). If you have to have tube tone at small venues I'd go around 5W to 15W. A 20W guitar amp will be heard as loud as a trumpet played at full power.
Windows tablet or laptop + 3.1 surround system makes the best small amp.. Apple are too expensive and Android doesn't do VSTs or AAX. There should be a $30 usb midi foot controller with 1 pedal and 4 switches by now, $40 for bluetooth version.. Virtual amps (hardware or software ) + 3.1 speakers work well for good bass + treble and OK mids (larger satellite speakers the better, but they still son't need to be big - 3 or 4 inches is enough).. 6 to 10 inch bass speaker depending on how loud.. -- I have 8'' + 2 x 3 inch with Guitar Rig and it sounds better at low volume than any proper guitar amp I've had, and provides the same dynamic feel as an cranked 100W Marshall valve amp - or any amp you want, near enough... Fills the room better, especially with speakers in the corners.. 5.1 is fun too but overkill and annoying to take to band practice .. 3.1 works fine as a mono amp with the satellites sitting on top of the bass box without a ton of wires.. For gigs I'd rather plug a virtual amp directly into the PA than use guitar amps.
I run a Fender 5F1 Champ Reissue, point-to-point re-wired by Franklyn Amps (1x8" Jensen P8R, for those classic, chimey mids and highs) and a Magic Amps Vibro-Prince (1x12" with a super high efficiency, high wattage Eminence GA-SC64)... both have sets of NOS tubes and that's all I need!
Yeah the gremlin as sick as my passion is..for tone bliss u did that amp justice..great job..love it…I’m in an apartment so gremlin actually best for that..👍👍
The best sounding combo amp produced in the last 25 years (IMO), pound for pound and dollar for dollar, isn't a Matchless, a Dumble, a Fender or Marshall. Its the Peavey Classic 20 combo. Originally sold brand new for about $100. It came with a single 10in speaker and despite only being 15w, it could drive a 4x12 cab without breaking a sweat. It didn't need to be cranked to sound great but, like most tube amps of its time, the louder it got, the better it got. I played over 600 shows in a little over 2 years with this little amp, most small to medium sized arena venues. Giggles and strange looks were common when I came walking in with this little gem in one hand and my git fiddle in the other. However, from moment I strummed the first chord of my sound check to the last note of the set, there would always be another guitar player, tech or sound guy asking "what the hell is that amp", where I found it and if it was hot rodded etc. Nope. Straight out of the box. No OD pedal needed. Just a tuner and a wah between my guitar and the amp. The amp's design allowed for amazing OD control with just the volume nob on the guitar. The lower the output of the pickups, the better; lust like a good OD pedal. The amp was nothing short of sublime when it reacted to P90's and other low output single coils. If you can find one regardless of price, get it. Peavey doesn't make it anymore and players aren't giving them up. Cheers!
Best small Amp I own is a Vox MV50 Clean, its tiny, size of a pedal, technically a valve amp, loud enough to gig with in the average pub, and sounds great through any 12" speaker, Vox really missed a trick not adding an effects loop to them, but now becoming a collectors item. My other favourite is the AC 15.
I voted for the Vibro Champ. It has a gorgeous combination of chime and warmth. Besides, I think anything over 10 watts is overkill if you're only going to be using it for recording and practicing.
I dig the 70's Fender vibri-champ, maybe because it was the 1st small amp I had access to. I played that silver faced fender 7 days a week and got paid for it too!
Bought a Morgan AC20 in 2017… Haven’t found another amp (so far) that can do all that it can do. I have played it a ton at gigs and home, and it never disappoints. Most common question I get from other guitarists - “Man… What amp are you using? That tone is SICK!” Great video man. Keep em coming!
Forever just blown away by the quality of your videos man.
you videos are great also mate, not only are you are great player you are young, when you play, it's like someone, beyond your years, great tones too..
I agree !
Your videos are great and super useful too Ross
I know! I wish I knew more about using DAWs and filming equipment/software. His vids are better done than most TV shows lol
I want them all! But the Tone Gremlin and Morgan Are my favourite.
I've got to say Paul, your videos are truly an inspiration.
Not only on the guitar side, but also how you produce your videos. Keep raising the bar.
I second that emotion.
I use 15 watt amps to play with my country band, they are plenty loud. I had a 70’s Champ, it was fun but not loud enough to perform with. These smaller combos have another benefit, they are so easy to carry to gigs for an old guy like me!
Instant subscribe. No ridiculous quick cuts, no crappy intro music. Slower paced than most, great camera work and editing. Most importantly - the sweet sweet tones from all those amps! ❤ What about the 65 Princeton Reverb reissue? Would love to hear your take!
It's been about 2 years since this video aired and my search for a vintage Vibro Champ started. I can now say that I'm the happy owner of a '76 Vibro Champ wich is in almost mint condition. It had to be recapped, but after that it's alive again! I was instantly in love with this awesome sounding gem! Dankjewel Paul.
Don't get me wrong, I love That Pedal Show, watch it all the time, and enjoy their playing on really loud amps while vicariously living the experience with them, but it just isn't practical at all for most of us. This is a healthy dose of amazing tones at low volumes. Killer at home tones, that's what we need. Thanks Paul!
Great video, Weird Accent Beard Guy.
@@EarthSouthside i know lmao, i was joking lmao, he even said “hello weird accent beard guy here”
He is dutch, I like the accent
Weird? That is how americans sound to many around the world lol. He is Dutch.
To clear some stuff out, i don't think his accent is weird at all (I myself have an accent like his), it's just a funny joke :P
There are a lot of great Dutch UA-camrs and they all have the same pleasing accent, at least to my American ears. And they speak English much more correctly than most of us. I admire that they can speak my language so well, but I know nothing about theirs.
My favorite would definitely be the Vibrochamp, the sound is so unique.
Got to go with the Vibro Champ
I have a '57 Fender Deluxe and it's by far the best sounding amp without any pedals. It also sounds amazing with a distortion pedal through a 2x12 cab. Larry Carlton claims he played a '57 Deluxe on the Royal Scam album. If so, it's no surprise. Great video, Paul. I'm gonna run out and get a Morgan.
I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life when I sold my 1959 Fender Princeton Tweed with the 5F2-A circuit. 5w, 8" speaker, volume and tone that was it... It was such a perfect amp...
Why did you sell it??
Because he was dumb
I have a Mesa California Tweed. It’s multiwatt settings are great for lower volume playing. It’s not an attenuator, it’s like having multiple amps, as it uses different combinations of tubes to go from 2 to 10 to 20 to 30 to 40 watts.
I enjoy each and every session with my Cali tweed 👍
I have a Cali Tweed. It's like having 3 amps and all of them sound absolutely sick. Such a perfect amp.
Same with my Rivera Venus Deux Rec. It's like having 4 amps in one: 2 hi/low power tweeds, and 2 hi/low power BFs, and even some additional voices with the bright and fat switches, focus and presence knobs. Simple but incredibly versatile. No bad sounds, just a lot of different ones, and all without modeling.
That Morgan AC20 does it for me. Vox sounds and power scaling makes me a happy man. Also, I half thought you were gonna start performing some Spinal Tap with that opening riff haha
I have the MVP23 combo and I love it... but I should've gotten the AC20 instead.
I used to have a seafoam green Fender Excelsior which is similar to a Blues Jr but with a 15” speaker and a cool retro design. LOVED that combo amp and regret selling it to this day! 😭
They are great amps! Still really loud though from what I remember 😅
I almost hate to say that I have a brown Fender Excelsior... first real tube amp, and no way I'm selling it.
13w is deceptive, I barely turn it up in the apartment. It gets LOUD quickly. Great with pedals, too.
@@PaulDavids Still super loud for sure! Pretty sure that’s why I ended up being okay selling it; my apartment neighbors at the time were grateful 😅
I used to have a line 6 spider 4, I remember when I sold it, can’t say I regret it haha
Those pawn shop amps definitely had majo. I've come across a few in BC but most are in rough shape and I couldn't justify buying them
"small amp on large cabinet" has always been my secret weapon of choice. Currently: Koch Studiotone 20W w/ a custom 4x12 cabinet. 😍🤘
This really resonated with me! For 5+ years I've had a 15W Bluetone Stalker (Finnish small builder) and it's the best amp I've ever had. Works great at home, in the studio, and on small gigs (even with drums). Sounds great clean and dirty but also takes pedals nicely. Simple but diverse and amazing sounding. My bandmate built a custom 2x12" tweed deluxe kit, and that too is awesome.
I'll never get rid of my 68 vibro champ (not a reissue). Sounds great on its own, takes pedals amazing and sounds glorious cranked. I love it!
I have a '73 vibro champ. That thing is so so rad. It has such a unique yet quintessential fender sound. I love it. You can find them on the used market for a decent price as well, which is definitely a win.
Super Champ. !!! A Rivera design from the 1990's
I got one a few years back for 300€. I think you need to bring at least double that amount now
That AC20 on the moon setting (no pedal) is my heart and souls home. I'm sold for life.
Edit: Wow, that naturally overdriven fender tweed at the end is the perfect, quintessential rock sound. What a hard decision between the two.
I love low watt amps. I have an Epiphone Valve Jr, and a 90's Blues Jr. Both have been modded and have custom speakers. A great practice amp, and a great grab and go amp. My forever gear. Great show, Paul.
I have a 53 feluxe clone. I love how it goes from screaming overdriven tones to sparkling chimey cleans with nothing more that a change in touch on the strings. Pure magic.
Oooh maaan, I love this!! No joke! David is talking about an amp being a pedal platform and plays fuzz through it! I mean, YES! I have a pedalboard, and I need demos about how amps take pedals.
Highly suggest watching That Pedal Show in that case.
I’ve keep a Swart 6v6 under my desk and I play it everyday. It sounds incredible. I also love that it doesn’t cost a fortune when I have to replace tubes like my larger amps.
Being a sucker for the classic Fender cleans and the fender look, I'd take the champ all day long. That being said I do also love tweed and vox tones, so those would be tied for a close second.
The Champ was easily the best sounding. I remember when "silverface" Fender amps were undesirable.
Love my VoxAC30. It only really shines if isolated, miked up, and cranked up to make the tubes huff and puff. It's a keeper; but on almost 100% of my live gigs, I have a boutique low wattage amp that I'm able to turn up. Great video.
I have a 1959 5-watt Gibson amp that came with the 1959 Yellow TV model Les Paul single coil, (which I also still have). That amp was my main amp for many years. The tone was unparalleled. I just miced it up through a Fender Twin to make it loud enough to be heard in clubs over the drums and bass.
That little Julian Lage lick there! Love that tune.
Which song?
Divided by 13 JRT 9/15!!!! Has 6v6 and EL84 backend. One of the best small amps ever!!
I love mine, but damn it’s loud!
They sound amazing and look amazing too !!!
As does Mesa blue angel... A bit bigger but for me maybe the best clean especially with NOS 6v6s and tung sol el84s
Carr Super Bee mr Papa!
If you haven’t demoed one on your channel give it a crack!
(Yeah I know you’re emotionally connected to divided by)
Take care sir
👍🇦🇺
That tweed deluxe sounds awesome!!! Love the channel. Thanks for passing the knowledge and the love of not only playing guitar,but just the love of music!! Keep on killing it!!!!
My old 1957 Fender 5F2A is incredible. My dad's first amp. With a Jensen P8R speaker. Love the simplicity of it: one preamp tube, one power tube, one rectifier tube. Working on them is super simple too. Replacing the filter caps, resistors and tube sockets was a piece of cake because of the turret board/point to point wiring.
I tried running it through an extension cab with a 12" speaker and ended up coming back to the 8". There is just something focused and magical about it. Personally I just drape an e906 front and center over the middle of the speaker, and use a large diaphragm condenser as a room mic, and it's an awesome sound.
I'm the same way with not liking super loud amps, with the exception of jamming. It's been a couple years since I was in a band gigging regularly and going to jams regularly, but I will say that in a live situation, I love the power of bigger amps. I never owned one personally, but the bass player in one of my bands would always let me play through his Sunn amp head with KT-88 tubes and a 4x12 bottom. There really is something great about that, though to be fair, I never played in a band or jam situation with my 5F2A mic'd up. Maybe I'd like that even more.
Also, the Gremlin sounded great. And has a great name. Maybe partially because I somewhat identify as a gremlin myself.
Technically, there's very little difference between a 20W and 30W amp. 100W is only twice as loud as 10W. Tried to post a citation of it, but UA-cam rejected it. But basically 10x power (wattage) = 10dB increase which = 2x the loudness. 2x the wattage = 3dB increase, which is just noticeable by human hearing
Speaker efficiency has a huge impact on loudness of an amp. I've heard 5W amps playing through a really efficient 2x12 pair on an outdoor stage competing with drums and 2nd guitarist w/20W amp, both unmiced. His volume was maxed but he sounded great.
Also, higher wattage amps will have more bass content which probably adds to the "feeling" of it being louder, without it actually technically being more dBs.
Incorrect - 100w with quad is way louder than a 10w. combo.
The Tone King Falcon Grande is the best sounding amp I've ever owned. Both clean and dirty.
Tone King is KING.
That vibro champ is a dream amp for me! Can’t wait to save and get one!
I just sold a 1966 Vibrochamp (black face)to Sweetwater- It was completely original in stellar shape. It still worked, but definitely needed new caps and updated. I believe the output on that amp was 6 watts. Nice amp, but I wanted a newer tube amp for my daughter that if she needed to could gig with. My trade worked out about even for a brand new PRS Sonzera 50- probably more amp than she needs, but nice sound. I know I'll probably regret this one day, but I'm sure it will go to someone that really appreciates it!
So cool! I've got a little Fender Blues Jr. amp that has a sound similar to that '53 Fender Deluxe. It's about the same size and has the same tweed covering. Bought it used about three years ago and have NEVER regretted it. Love that sound!
For me its the Fender everytime! the warmth and its amazing what tones you can get with just 3 knobs to dial, That 53' sounded awesome
Your color correction is really great. Your guitar looks like it's emitting fire. That sunburst really pops!
Love my recent Marshall Origin 5C seeing as it fills a spot in my heart emptied when I had to sell my 1970s Bluesbreaker. All hail small tube amps. Even 5 watts can blow the bloody doors off :)
I also have the Marshall Origin 5C! It had to replace the AC30.... obviously too loud for the living room 😀
Nice I love the origin amps I got a marshall class 5 probably very similar!
You're right about volume. I've got a 5W Bugera and a 1W (yes, 1W) Blackstar and either of them could be used at Woodstock with no PA.
I have two self modded 5 watt epi valve jr. heads. Run them into a 10” Celestion green cabinet and it will blow us out of the bedroom. So it’s held at 10 o’clock at most.
@@annunacky4463 I've got one of those valve Jr combos, and it is uncomfortably Loud in a very large living room, can't dial up past 3/4. No headroom on that thing, but plenty loud! I actually played a valve Jr through a 4-10 cab, and it sounded killer, and finally carried some real headroom.
My VHT ultra 6 watt is just about the perfect practice amp. It has a built in attenuator and a 1/2 power switch, so basically can run from .1-6.0 watts. Plenty of clean headroom for living room/coffee shop, and crunch on dial at any volume
Over the years I've had pretty much everything "vintage" from a 1950 Champ to a Marshall JMP 100 watt head and I eventually concluded that everything above 10 watts just wasn't viable domestically, the first thing I ever got rid of because it was "too loud" was a silver face Fender Twin and the rest, quite a collection of them, went shortly afterwards. I kept (because of the master-volume) a Marshall Studio 15 that I've now had for 30 years from new but the one I really miss saying "goodbye" to was a mid-60's blackface Princeton ...... if I had to choose from your four it would be the Vibro-Champ, they're wonderful in almost every way ....... only, when I was buying amps they were too CBS to be cool.
Honestly for bedroom volume I've found that amps between about .05W and 5W are about perfect for actually being able to get power tube saturation. I love my DSL40CR, but I've owned that amp for nearly two years now and it's only this past week that I bought an attenuator and I can FINALLY get the tones I wanted out of it.
The Vibro Champ for me. Blown away and surprisingly so. Great video as always Paul!
I’m always a little amazed at what a smooth, fluent player this cat is. He could make WalMart brand equipment sound great.
Paul’s passion for amazing tone is really fun to watch. Now I want every amp in this video.
ikr, where is my checkbook
I love my '66 Vibrochamp. Just right for playing in my little studio and the vibe is so cool. I thought the Morgan amp sounded incredible. Honestly, they all sounded great due largely to your tasteful and tasty playing Paul. Cheers!
Love all these! Another great “vintage” amp is the Peavey Classic 20 combo made in the USA .
The only amp that I own...and sporting a Weber Alnico speaker. YMMV
Paul, you aren't the Weird Accent Beard Guy. You're the gloriously lush beard guy with the tasty tone. C'mon, we're more civilized than that.
"Weird accent bearded guy" is exactly how i subconsciously described paul davids when i first saw his video though
One source for both grooming and guitar goals. What a fascinating modern age we live in!
@@melodica5407 You OBVIOUSLY never met a Dutchman!
Bought a Marshall powerbrake attenuator 15 years ago and have never looked back, 30w valve amps sound glorious at home, even on the quietest setting the tone is amazing and how a valve amp should sound. Slightly baffled that in 2021 many experienced guitarists still don’t know about attenuators!
I been looking into attenuators to use with a possible purchase of a marshal 20w plexi studio head. But Iv watched so many videos and many solid comparisons . Unfortunately i that just about every attenuator thins out the sound. It cuts off most of the bass end. The only one that doesn’t do that is the power station yet it scoops the mids with its 6l6 tubes .
So idk. They all just made the guitar sound thinner and loses its true warmth and idk if it’s worth it if I value the original tone . Otherwise I can just use my marshal with a master volume instead .
Tone King! Love it’s versatility. Might have to get one myself to replace my loud-as-hell Fender Bassman tweed 4x10.
Fender '53 Deluxe! Absolutely!!! Do you own this amp Paul? KEEP IT!!! Haha.
Matamp 20w head - just unbelievably big sound! Amazing tone ( same yr as Peter Green's ). Haven't changed the valves since 1979! Lol! Aging like a fine single malt!
I own an old Princeton and it's the best tone I've ever had. I own several "big bottle" amps that are killer but the tiny princeton gets the most use
Ya I have a silver face Princeton and it has changed everything for me . My most used amp ever and still sounds great with a band
60’s Princeton’s FTW
@kthomasaus They are magical.
Love my Princeton Reverb. It's a later 70's silverface but still love it.
I play a blues jr since years and it's unbelievably loud. Can play venues with over 100 people easily. It's a great amp.
Unless one of the people is a loud drummer
@@Ninjametal our drummer is loud and can't here anything, except the guitar and I am only at 4 on the master, when I am using the master for volume.
@@Ninjametal nah. Put a mic on it and run a little guitar through the monitors and that Blues Jr will be plenty with even a really hard hitting drummer.
Each to his own but for me the Fender 53 does it. For us more monitarily challenged, I found that the Fender Pro Jr 4 Ltd in Tweed does a great sound with a 10" Jensen. You need to try it in a room setting - not a large hall where the harmonics get lost. Great video Paul. You are becoming more distinguished as the years go by.
I was just looking to buy an amp like blues junior today and searching for vids... Crazy timing Paul
Fender '53 Deluxe. Without a doubt. The best tone ever
Agreed
Thanks! Although I enjoyed the AC-20 because of its punch. The Vibro Champ for its clarity, the strings sing together. I thought the Gremlin was a little too bright for my taste, but switching to the lead channel helped. It sounded nice with pedals. The '53 Deluxe is likely the amp I will remember from this demonstration. That tone wraps me like a blanket.
Yeah 53 deluxe is sweet. Something about that Gremlin sounds really nice to me also. 😏
Yes undoubtedly 🙌
Pretty close! You just haven't heard my '59😀
Yep, this is why I sold my Bugera 333. It was a 120W all tube combo amp that was painfully loud with the volume on 2. Great stage amp I guess, but I'm much better served with my Champ X2 now.
I have a Bugera g20 that I love. Was considering a g5 someday.
I can't imagine playing a 120 watt amp unless it was at an outdoor festival, and even then only 1 speaker gets mic'd anyway. I sold my 100 watt Marshall, Peavey and Randall heads years ago.
@@louaguado995 At 120 watts odds are you're not even gonna mic at all.
Try the Bugera V5 or V22 I have both. My search for tone is over. At least that's what I told my wife 😃
Super champ x2 cool amp for the home..
Does just about everything..
IMHO, 20 watt-ish amps are usually too loud for practice/small gig use too...And switching (when possible) to 5 watts, usually makes it sound a little thinner. I stopped worrying about it when I bought a Rivera Rock Crusher attenuator - possibly the best no-nonsense attenuator out there. Now I can use 50 watt or 100 watt amps at home or band practice. Highly recommended. Great video and playing, Paul. Thanks for sharing
I really like the tone of the gremlin and the clean fender. Along with the B roll at the end I’ll keep watching! Stay well, Paul! Glad you’re having fun👏🎼👍🏼…actually, they all make me drool ha
Got the tone king for about a year, I absolutely love it
Got mine earlier this year Yes LOVE it
Love the sound of that Morgan, especially in the dark setting. My favourite small amp is my Bassbreaker 007, just sounds like guitar should to my ears.
Bassbreaker 007 is a fantastic sounding amp
Love my 007 and my 57 champ. Went into guitar center with a bassbreaker 45 2x12 and a Marshall origin 50 with a 2x12 cab and walked out with the little 5 watt custom 57 champ. Couldn’t have been happier only 1 guy knew why I did it lol. Had the 007 already that’s why I never used the 45.
The '53 Deluxe sounds by far the best, just right and lovely. Then '74 Vibro Champ, kind of cute, sweet sound. The others are more rough. Thanks for a beautiful comparison.
I bought a silver face Vibro Champ back in the early ‘90s and it’s not going anywhere!
Found it in a tiny little used instrument music shop in my town that specialized in junk. But there in a stack of cheap solid state amps sat the dusty little Champ!
Played it cool and negotiated for it. In the end slapped cash on the counter and said that was it. It may be small but it weighed a ton by the time I walked home.
Great video Paul! Small amps are sorta the rage now but they’re worth has been known for decades.
I was surprised by how good that Vibro Champ sounds! I love that crystal clean Fender sound.
Here's what I'd really like to see: a small tube amp, with switchable power settings (1/5 W RMS or 1/5/20 W RMS), a complete tone stack (bass-mid-treble), master volume, an effects loop, and a Hiwatt-like tonal signature.
Yesss!
marshall dsl5cr
Marshall Origin 20H with a cab of your choosing fits that almost perfectly, although its definitely based on an early marshall/bassman design so may not scratch that Hiwatt itch. You'll just have to try it. Beware the treble and presence controls though, always run them at 0 and use the unique tilt control for treble. Then you have an absolutely amazing amp that sounds good at any of the 0.3 watt, 5 watt, or 20 watt settings. Includes master volume and effects loop of course.
This is why I like 10w tube combos with relatively low sensitivity (97 or 98dB) speakers these days. 15 years ago, I was gigging with two 120w half stacks in a metal band... but it was all preamp distortion, the amps were never that loud. For the last 10 years, my most powerful amp has been 15w.
Hey! I can recall you from HRI forum! I have totally the same philosophy about the tone. Cheers. Martin
I have the tone king falcon grande..and I’ve been playing many years..probably owned so many quality amps ..This is a beautiful amp.does the whole gamit ..blackface,tweed,and as advertised a Supro type overdriven sound…love yr tutelage…and playing..Glenn Nyc
Haha just posted about my Falcon Grande, then saw your comment.
Best amp for me, hands-down. Those cleans are f'n magic, and that overdrive (I push it with an MXR EQ and a Klon Klone) are beastly rich.
I feel the same about my Rivera Venus Deux Rec! It doesn't have a built in attenuator, but it does have a 7w/25w switch. And it will give me BF, tweed and so much more. Plus an incredibly lush reverb and built-in silent and direct recording facilities and headphone out and FX loop, etc etc. Wowza!
That nostalgic Zoom multi FX, Paul! I got my Zoom 707 in 2004, and really served me well through those years, plugged in directly to many basic non tube amps...
Dear paul, if u ever read this. Thanks a lot for your ever inspiring content. This channel was so helpfull for a lot of my descicions. Just bought a used princeton reissue as a first tube amp. Fits my home practicing all the band rehearsals and get a bit of micing up during concerts. This vid convinced me to go small. Cheers Jonathan
I totally agree, small amps rule! I have a tweed Blues Junior and it's my favorite amp I've ever owned.
I play a Strat and mostly clean and for me the Vibro Champ easily is the best choice.. Nothing beats single coils through a Black/Silverface Fender
Man, that Gremlin Tone King... It's absolutely delicious!
The gremlin in turquoise looks amazing and sounded amazing in the video. That ‘53 though 😍
I’m all about small amps! Got a Mesa Boogie Mark 5:25 and it’s is a beast!
Also a Roland JC22 and Boss ACS Live, and a MarkBass Marcus Miller CMD.
All tiny, but loud enough for any gig that can take a DI to the front of the house
Recently purchased a VOX AC10. Went smaller for the same reasons mentioned in the video. It's a brighter amp but has that signature chime. I like the idea of putting a ribbon in front to maybe warm things up a bit.
I'm a bit split between the AC10 and the AC15. The AC10 has a huge advantage in that it's super light and easy to move to a jam or a gig, but it's got a digital reverb, while the AC15 has all of the classic Vox circuitry and a reverb tank... but you pay for it by it being 15kg heavier.
@@Stoney3K Tough decision. The AC15 is awesome - just a bit too loud for my small studio. Something else to consider might be the speaker (Celestion or Alnico) That said, I love VOX pedigree - perfect for anyone looking for a little Beatle magic :D
I've been playing an AC10 for the last year and it DEFINTELY has the chops. That chime is soooo choice. I play a Fender Strat, and Epiphone Les Paul, and a Squier Tele through it - and they all sound like melting butter. Highly, highly recommended.
I just got an AC-15. I love that Vox sound. I always have, grew up with my dad playing Queen, and listening to British rock. It was either a clean toned Vox or a dirty as hell Orange. Those were my two dream amps. I dont gig or anything so i'm not worried about weight, my only concern is the volume of the 15 will be too much to tame. But clean tones i can get a ton of use out of it at a reasonable volume.
Love the AC10, I wanted one even lower volume so I went with an AC4TV a massive 4 watts of tube and can go down as low as 1/4 watt works ! still pretty damn loud if you need it.
I love my tone king gremlin, black face, tweed it does it all. Been my one and only amp since I bought it after watching the demo on peach guitars channel.
Yes quickly became my favorite...the head can run an EL34 and it sounds amazing w nos Mullard Montrose tones w a LP...I didn't even use the overdrive channel
Thanks Paul for the perfect presentation of the 4 small amplifiers.
For me the Morgan AC20 is killer.The perfect (little) mix between Vox and Matchless souds.
In my opinion this one has enough power for stage use and it sounds fantastic with more than enough options to set up your perfect sound.
Without a doubt a small amp of great class and for me the most versatile of the quartet for use at both low and high volume!
Hello Paul, I am literally your biggest fan. Its been about six years I have been learning guitar and for the past 2 years I have progressed so much just seeing your videos. They are just awesome. Would definitely like a video on the best electric guitars out there for a middle class person. Thanks Love from India💓💞
😊
Literally?
Always a great learning experience to see you play and talk about your instruments and amps. You treat them all with such TLC and highlight the special qualities of each one. You’ll make a good dad for sure!
Now that's a wholesome comment. I concur completely.
The Deluxe is amazing...you can hear the history coming out of it....
Damn, I had a Zoom 505II that I used for all my effects for years! Totally forgot about that thing. I'd spend hours making presets, trying to emulate sounds from various songs.
It was a sad day when mine stopped working.
Holy smokes that Morgan sounds glorious! That would be my choice Paul, seems really versatile and maybe powerful enough to even play live mic’ed up through the front end. They all sounded killer though, you have a lot to do with that!
I promise you - its great. My best amp in 30 years amp search. Sounds great with both single coils, p90, humbuckers. Fair weight and massive pure tube sound. But buy the JS12 or change the speaker in the PR12 to an Eminence JS1250. Amazing together… 😀
My father bought a 74 V Champ when i was born. 1974. Sadly he's passed, God rest his soul, but i still have the V Champ and some great gear he left me. Thanks Paul.
Thanks for taking those extra steps like the smoke with the amps and fade in and out sound effect of the labels for the amps. Keep up the great work!
The 505 was the catalyst to my 30 year guitar journey. Loved that pedal.
Thought the Morgan had a good overall sound, especially with that tweek of reverb (which pedal? Nice) ... Fender vibro-champ ... ideal jazz tone ... least favourite Tone King, and "winner" Fender Delux, just "quality" ... that's all I can say ... something visceral about the sound ... great little video, enjoyed it immensely, keep it up!
The Tone King smashed it for me, it also has the best attenuator. Killer amp that needs no pedals.
Went to a gig a couple of days ago where the guitarist used a small Tone King stack. It sounded absolutely amazing and I knew they would be expensive but I still cried when I looked it up
I went with the Gremlin Least expensive unless you add the 1/12 cab
I think they sound great but just don’t have enough low end .
@@heythere6983 Open back 2/12 cabinet does the trick for me but yes have heard other people say that as well
I’ve become a bit of a cab collector lately so I I don’t buy combos anymore. I think I could get the Gremlin head and just pair it with one of my 1x12s to find the best speaker/cab size that goes with it. For your own preferences I think it’s very worthwhile to compare a head with the same speaker in a small 1x12 cab or a more oversized 1x12 cab.
The last one was the best to my ears :) but that Morgan, wow... superb! Anyway, same here, Paul: 20 watts probably is what I need for concerts (it will have mics in front of it anyway to go through the PA). When practicing, 5 watts should do the job. I had a 100 watts Marshall that I used only in one recording... you can guess why. It was almost impossible to find the sweet spot at descent levels. So I got back my Fender Blues Junior, modded now with a Made in UK Celestion Greenback, and decided to go for one of Marshall's studio series heads (the Silver Jubilee 20 watts head, for its versatility) for when I need those sweet Marshall driven tones through a bigger cab.
I've got the Fender Bronco (1974) which is the same as the Vibro Champ - great clean little amp, and enough sound that I'm not afraid of using on small gigs. Really like the classic Fender sound - my first amp was a late 60's Deluxe Reverb, and I've currently got the Bronco, a Carvin Vintage 16 and a reissue '68 Fender Deluxe Reverb (along w/ several small 1960's Gibson/Epiphone amps). The Fender Bronco/Vibro Champ is really special.
I love small tubes!! The 10-25 watt range is perfect for a coffee shop or a bedroom or for recording with a mic :) anything higher power is better for stadiums. Don’t waste your money on bigger amps then you need
-❤️Lucy
A lot of the time nowadays stadiums will have much better PAs than small gigs so I doubt you would need massive amps there either.
What if you need headroom?
A Fender Deluxe Reverb at 22W is way too loud for a coffee shop or bedroom. I got one so I know! If you don't believe me, try cranking one to 7 or 8 😉
@@elrincondelaguitarra3050 Way too loud, I know because I have a Supersonic 22, that is pretty much the same as the clean channel of a DR, but at 3-4 of the volume...(it is a gigging volume with drummer) you are getting a crunch tone and not a clean tone. That´s the "problem"...when you need cleaner tone at the same volume.
@@joserra79 Yep. If it's only clean tone you need, I'd go with a SS amp... (e.g. A BOSS Katana, and you won't be needing pedals).
If you have to have tube tone at small venues I'd go around 5W to 15W. A 20W guitar amp will be heard as loud as a trumpet played at full power.
LP through the Deluxe with the fuzz is the magic sound.
A agree. 5E3 + Fuzz really rulez!!!!!
truth
guitarists before: I NEED 100 MOAR WATTS
guitarists now: I knew 25 watts would be too much
true, i use black star ht 20 now lol...
It's true I sold my blackstar ht40 watt equipment that was heavy, and bought the 30 watt matchless
I use my Origin 20 almost exclusively in the "low" output setting (which is 0.5W, I believe...) 😅
@@schmoemi3386 same here lmao
Windows tablet or laptop + 3.1 surround system makes the best small amp.. Apple are too expensive and Android doesn't do VSTs or AAX. There should be a $30 usb midi foot controller with 1 pedal and 4 switches by now, $40 for bluetooth version.. Virtual amps (hardware or software ) + 3.1 speakers work well for good bass + treble and OK mids (larger satellite speakers the better, but they still son't need to be big - 3 or 4 inches is enough).. 6 to 10 inch bass speaker depending on how loud..
--
I have 8'' + 2 x 3 inch with Guitar Rig and it sounds better at low volume than any proper guitar amp I've had, and provides the same dynamic feel as an cranked 100W Marshall valve amp - or any amp you want, near enough... Fills the room better, especially with speakers in the corners.. 5.1 is fun too but overkill and annoying to take to band practice .. 3.1 works fine as a mono amp with the satellites sitting on top of the bass box without a ton of wires.. For gigs I'd rather plug a virtual amp directly into the PA than use guitar amps.
Exactly why I love my little 1 watt Blackstar combo amp. Great video!
I run a Fender 5F1 Champ Reissue, point-to-point re-wired by Franklyn Amps (1x8" Jensen P8R, for those classic, chimey mids and highs) and a Magic Amps Vibro-Prince (1x12" with a super high efficiency, high wattage Eminence GA-SC64)... both have sets of NOS tubes and that's all I need!
Yeah the gremlin as sick as my passion is..for tone bliss u did that amp justice..great job..love it…I’m in an apartment so gremlin actually best for that..👍👍
The best sounding combo amp produced in the last 25 years (IMO), pound for pound and dollar for dollar, isn't a Matchless, a Dumble, a Fender or Marshall. Its the Peavey Classic 20 combo. Originally sold brand new for about $100. It came with a single 10in speaker and despite only being 15w, it could drive a 4x12 cab without breaking a sweat. It didn't need to be cranked to sound great but, like most tube amps of its time, the louder it got, the better it got.
I played over 600 shows in a little over 2 years with this little amp, most small to medium sized arena venues. Giggles and strange looks were common when I came walking in with this little gem in one hand and my git fiddle in the other. However, from moment I strummed the first chord of my sound check to the last note of the set, there would always be another guitar player, tech or sound guy asking "what the hell is that amp", where I found it and if it was hot rodded etc. Nope. Straight out of the box. No OD pedal needed. Just a tuner and a wah between my guitar and the amp. The amp's design allowed for amazing OD control with just the volume nob on the guitar. The lower the output of the pickups, the better; lust like a good OD pedal. The amp was nothing short of sublime when it reacted to P90's and other low output single coils.
If you can find one regardless of price, get it. Peavey doesn't make it anymore and players aren't giving them up.
Cheers!
thats a beautiful strat!
That Morgan AC20 and the Fender Vibro Champ are to die for. Just gorgeous!!!
Ooooooooh 505!!! My first pedal ever!!!!!!! Great to see that!
Best small Amp I own is a Vox MV50 Clean, its tiny, size of a pedal, technically a valve amp, loud enough to gig with in the average pub, and sounds great through any 12" speaker, Vox really missed a trick not adding an effects loop to them, but now becoming a collectors item. My other favourite is the AC 15.
FX loop is a must, especially for people who like higher gain!
I voted for the Vibro Champ. It has a gorgeous combination of chime and warmth. Besides, I think anything over 10 watts is overkill if you're only going to be using it for recording and practicing.
Vibro champ !! Without hésitations !!!
Just 1W can be pretty loud, actually...
I love my 5e3, my hand wired Princeton, my Vibro Champ, my Epiphone Valve Junior….. bigger isn’t always better
all great amps!
Yes! My Princeton 68 Reissue, EC Vibro Champ and... well, sometimes you feel like a nut... Twin.
I dig the 70's Fender vibri-champ, maybe because it was the 1st small amp I had access to. I played that silver faced fender 7 days a week and got paid for it too!
Bought a Morgan AC20 in 2017… Haven’t found another amp (so far) that can do all that it can do. I have played it a ton at gigs and home, and it never disappoints. Most common question I get from other guitarists - “Man… What amp are you using? That tone is SICK!” Great video man. Keep em coming!